Video: If Not Now, Then When Should I Act? Ruben Vardanian on His Decision to Become Artsakh's Minister of State

In an interview with the French publication Le Spectacle du Monde, Ruben Vardanian, the Minister of State of Artsakh and head of the operational headquarters, responded to the question of why he agreed to become the minister of the unrecognized republic during one of the most dangerous periods in Artsakh's history by stating, "If not now, then when should I act?"

"This is a choice I made for the present, but also for future generations because we have thousands of years of history on this land," he emphasized.

Addressing the issue of the so-called ecological blockade by Azerbaijani so-called environmentalists, Vardanian noted that it is an obvious manipulation attempt, as no one has carried out environmental actions in Azerbaijan, a country producing oil and gas, for decades.

Speaking about the international community's response to the events in Artsakh, the Minister of State assessed that decision-makers today are ignoring human rights. At this moment, gas is more important for Europe, and it doesn't matter where it comes from.

In response to a question regarding the possibility of peace with Baku, Ruben Vardanian cited global examples, namely that France and Germany were in confrontation for a long time but today have excellent relations. "This is a long road that requires a lot of work, will, and engagement," he said.

Vardanian emphasized that any option under Azerbaijan's control would mean ethnic cleansing and genocide for Artsakh, calling for more active international involvement in preventing genocide.

"It's better to avoid that than to deal with the consequences later. That is why I hope that pressure on Azerbaijan will continue to prevent them from carrying on with what they have started," Vardanian concluded.